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The heads of space agencies from the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada met in Montreal Wednesday Jan 26 to review and further advance International Space Station (ISS) cooperation. At this meeting, the Heads of Agency (HOA) reviewed the status of ongoing ISS operations and NASA's plans for Space Shuttle return to flight. The HOA endorsed the Multilateral Coordination Board approved ISS configuration. The partners reaffirmed their agencies' commitment to meet their ISS obligations; to complete Station assembly by the end of the decade; and to use and further evolve the ISS in a manner that meets their research and exploration objectives. The Partners discussed and agreed on plans for continued support of the ISS, consistent with planned Station research and use. Of particular interest to the Partners is increased use of the Space Station and early opportunities for an enhanced crew of greater than three after the Space Shuttle returns to flight. Space Station transportation needs will be met by a mix of support vehicles from across the Partnership. Planning includes support by Russian Soyuz spacecraft; the U.S. Space Shuttle; the automated logistics re-supply capabilities provided by Russian Progress vehicles; the ATV and HTV spacecraft to be provided by Europe and Japan respectively; as well as the capabilities from potential future commercial providers. The Heads of Agency agreed to meet again in fall 2005 to review progress on planned ISS activities. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue the unprecedented international cooperation that has characterized the International Space Station Program to date. This cooperation has enabled the Partnership to safely maintain human presence on-orbit and keep the International Space Station in a productive state of operations and use, including the continued use of Canadarm2, during the hiatus in Space Shuttle flights. The ISS Heads of Agency expressed their appreciation for the outstanding work being conducted by the Space Station on-orbit crews. They also confirmed their readiness to proceed with Space Station assembly, when the Space Shuttle returns to flight during the May-June 2005 timeframe. Related Links Station at NASA SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express 
First European Long-Term Space Station Mission This Year
Montreal QC (AFP) Jan 26, 2005A German astronaut's mission to become the first European to take up long-term residency on the International Space Station (ISS), could take place this year, a senior space official said Wednesday. |
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